Accessibility Options

The Museum is committed to providing inclusive experiences for all audiences and we are pleased to offer the following:

Entrances on Madison Ave and Constitution Ave NW

Both entrances to the Museum on Madison Drive and Constitution Avenue NW are accessible. There is a bus drop off location on Madison Drive. The easiest way to visit the Museum is to travel by public transportation. Please visit www.wmata.com for more information.

Parking

The Smithsonian does not provide parking. There are National Park Service designated accessible parking spaces along Madison Drive adjacent to the Museum. Visitors with disability hang tags or license plates can park at metered spaces controlled by the DC government. Visit the DC government website for more information about their parking procedures and for an interactive map of Red Top Meter parking locations. The nearest public parking garage is located at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. You may access the parking garage via ramps at 14th Street NW (north and south). Please visit the International Trade Center website for more information.

Restrooms

All restrooms have one accessible stall and there are designated Family/Companion Care Restrooms on Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 of the Museum.

Visitors with Limited Mobility

The Museum is fully accessible for visitors with limited mobility via escalators, elevators and ramps. Wheelchairs, regular and bariatric sized, are located behind the Security Desk near the Madison Drive entrance and are available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. The Oprah Winfrey Theater, used for public programming, has accessible seating and transfer seating.

Visitors with Low Vision or Who are Blind

For visitors who are blind or experience low vision, there are Braille/raised image maps and large print maps located at the Walmart Welcome Desk. Visitors may borrow these maps to assist with wayfinding and orientation while visiting. Currently, the Museum does not offer tactile tours. However, Docents and Visitor Services staff are trained to offer sighted guide and verbal description for visitors. Visitors may choose a 45-minute highlight tour of the Museum or a tour of the gallery of their choice.

Service Animals

Service animals are permitted on the Museum grounds and in the building.

Visitors Who are Hard of Hearing or Who are Deaf

The Walmart Welcome Desk and Oprah Winfrey Theater feature a T-Loop System for amplification and assistive listening. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available for public programs by contacting the Museum with 2 weeks advanced notice. To schedule ASL interpretation please contact nmaahcvisitorservices@si.edu.

All videos in the Museum are open captioned. The Oprah Winfrey Theater has rear-projection captioning.

Accessibility for International Visitors

Smithsonian informational brochures are available at the Welcome Desk in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

For Families: Morning at the Museum

Morning at the Museum is a project of the Smithsonian Institution's Accessibility Program and the Smithsonian Museums. The Smithsonian has developed pre-visit materials for families guided by a Community Advisory Committee comprised of museum educators, exhibit designers, professionals who work with children with cognitive or sensory processing disabilities, parents, and self-advocates, the Smithsonian has developed pre-visit materials for families. On select dates, families are invited to visit a Smithsonian museum before the public opening for a special experience. To register for Morning at the Museum or to request information, email access@si.edu.